Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-26
SHALL WE WIN ?

The most casual observer of the
proceedings OF the Roanoke con.
ventlon could not have failed to
discern that the u. s. Senatorship
is to be made the real issue in the
approaching canvass. To it all else
is to be subordinated. The inter.
terests Of Virginia; the condition of
the people; the pressing demands
Tor wise legislation; the imperative
necessity for an adjustment of the
difficulties which hedge about the
state, must all yield to personal
considerations and the aspirations
of individuals. This is not only in
obedience to the dictate of the
bosses, but, from Democratic
standpoint, it is the part Of wisdom
as well. Standing upon a platform
the only good planks of which are
distinctively Republican, with a
record behind it in state and ma
ton to which it dares not refer, the
Democratic party may well seek to
hide its past, and conduct the con.
test upon purely personal issues.
Reason, reflection, calm judgment
and common sense must be laid
aside. and passion, prejudice and
epithet invoked to lead the people
away from the contemplation OF
their interests, if success would be
achieved. 1t would be fatal to call
up the acts of the last legislature
the reckless waste of the peoples
money-the imbecility and utter
lack of real concern for the states
good, and hold to rigid accounta.
bihty the party so Justly response.
BILE. 1t would be no less hazardous
to turn the lights on the national
capitol and bring to public view
the broken promises, the treachery
and deceit that have been part and
parcel of the administration tor two
wears past. All of these vital Is
sues must be stihed at the very
outset. or else they blot out every
prospect of partizan success. For
them must be substituted the one
senseless cry of "Down with Ma
hone" With that shibbOleth is
linked Democracy's only hope.
Driven from every position they
have hitherto assumed compelled
to endorse that which a year before
they bitterly condemned with no
single Democratic principle to cling
to, and no appeal that will reach
the public ear, the Democratic lead
ers propose to stake everything
upon the one desperate chance of
arouslng prejudice and leading the
people once more into blind, gall
ing submission.
1t lies with the Republicans to
say whether or not this last card
shall be snatched from their hands
ere the game begins. 1t can be
done. and the state delivered from
the control of those who have ruth
lessly pressed her to the earth
Let every Republican and indepen-
dent candidate announce from the
platform that he is in the field to
aid Virginia in her struggle for
material prosperity; to enact
business laws for business men
to strive for the upbullding
of the state and the prosperity OF
all her people, rather than for the
perpetuity OF party ascendancy,
and the triumph of party ends;
that the good Of the state shall be
the sole guide of his conduct, aud
the blotting out OF class legislation
and the upbuiding Of the farming,
mechanical and business interests,
his primary ambition and to the
end that the Senatorial contest may
be subordinatcd to the real issues, let
him announce that he rW enter no
Senatorial caucus, but will be bound
in this, as in all other respects. to
consult alone the best good of Nir-
rinia in the vote he shall cast for
United States Senator.
With such a platform, the trad
ing politicians will be forced to the
rear. The strong, common sense
of the masses who feel and know
the desperate condition OF the
states affairs and realize that
united effort must be made to wrest
her from the grasp of those who
would make of her a mere political
machine, will assert itself. There
is more independence to-day in Viz
ginia than was ever before known
IN her history. Party ties, in state
matters, hang closely. Party whips
have lost their terror. Men can no
longer be driven or cajoled by
threats or promises. The demand
of the people is for clean state
government. For laws that will
meet the public needs. For an
honest, earnest effort for the settle
ment OF the debt, and proper pro.
vision to assure the success OF that
settlement. For business men in
the departments and business meth
DDS in the administration OF the
laws. In short, for RELOCATING pol
iticians and partzanism to the rear
tor a while, in order that the state
and her people may be permitted
to live and prosper.
These are the vital, commanding
issues of the campaign this fall. If
they can be stripped of all irrele.
want matter, and pressed to the
front in their naked significance,
there will be just cause for rejolc.
ing when the contest ends.
The above, from the Valley VIZ
ginian, expresses the views OF the
HERALD. 1t has the tone of the
leading horn. We are with the
VirQiaidn in earnest conviction and
Jealous labor EDITOR.